Humidifier and air cleaner



Aug. 5, 1952 M. HALL HUMIDIFIEB AND AIR CLEANER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Aug. 23, 1946 29 Fig.1

HUMIDIFIER AND AIR- CLEANER 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 n a m.

tiunvvnnusvi ili Filed Aug. 23, 1946 Patented Aug. 5, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HUMIDIFIER AND AIR CLEANER Michael F. Hall, Palm Springs, Calif. Application August 23, 1946, Serial No. 692,521

11 Claims.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines and is particularly directed to a humidifier and air cleaner for use with the fuel intake system of such engines.

It is known that injection of water into the air stream entering the carburetor or into the combustible fuel mixture within the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine has certain beneficial effects and that among these are increased power, suppression of detonation and decreased fuel consumption.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved form of humidifier and air cleaner through which passes substantially all of the air entering the carburetor of an internal combustion engine, in, order that the density 'of the air maybe increased prior to carburetion with consequent increase in volumetric efiiciency. Another object is to humidify to the point of near saturation substantially all of the air drawn into the carburetor, thereby cooling of the air to increase its density, and hence providing a supercharging effectby increasing the amount of oxygen admitted with each cubic footof combustible mixture entering the intake manifold. Another object is to provide a supercharging effect without corresponding increase in temperature, such as is ordinarily obtained when employing mechanical type supercharger apparatus. Another object is to provide humidifier, apparatus of this type which offers minimum resistance to air flow. Another object is to effect automatic thermodynamic control on the amount of moisture added to the air mixture entering the carburetor. A further object is to provide an apparatus for accomplishing these purposes together with novel means for collecting impurities in a readily removable element. A further object of my invention is to provide means whereby the apparatus normally used for humidification may be operated in subfreezing temperatures as an air cleaner. Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, showing a preferred embodiment of my invention associated with a conventional form of automotive engine of the internal combustion Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly broken away.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale, partly in section, showing details of an air valve employed in connection with the air inlet pipe. V y Figure 4 is a side elevation, partly in section,

of the humidifying unit employed in connection with my invention.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on the line 55 as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation on an enlarged scale showing details of construction of the float chamber associated with my invention.

Figure '7 is a transverse sectional view of the humidifier cartridge employed in connection with my invention.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic illustration showing a device embodying my invention as applied to an automobile and illustrating preferred locations of various associated parts.

Referring to the drawings, an automotive engine of the internal combustion type generally designated I0 is provided with an intake manifold II anda carburetor I2, of any conventional design. A radiator I3, of the usual type, is provided for cooling water circulated through the engine I0 bya pump (not shown).

Secured to the carburetor inlet I4 is an air cleaner and humidifier unit generally designated I4. An air scoop or inlet pipe I6 extending to the front of the engine in advance of the radiator I3- also leads to the unit I5 and is secured thereto by means of wing nut IT. The entire volume of air which passes into the carburetor I2 enters the unit I5 via the scoop I6 and is cleaned, humidified and cooledwithin the unit I5 before passing downwardly into the carburetor air inlet I4.

As shown in the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 to 7, the air cleaner and humidifier unit I5 comprises a casing I8 having an annular removable element I9 mounted thereon.

A water supply chamber 20 is secured to the casing I8 and is formed in the shape of a cup provided with a removable closure I2. A stationary post 22 attached to the bottom of the chamber 20 extends upwardly therein and forms a guide for the sleeve 23 which is slidably mounted on the post. The upper end of the sleeve is threaded to receive the depending shank of a valve element 24 having a sealing disk 25 secured thereto.

A downwardly extending tube 26 formed integrally with the closure 2| is adapted for cooperation with the sealing disk 25 to close off the lower end of the tube 26. A hollow float 2! is mounted within the chamber 20 and is arranged to slide vertically on the sleeve 23. A'lug 28 is provided on. the .lower end of. the sleeve for engagement with the float 21 so that the float 21 may move the sleeve 23 downwardly and thereby 3 separate the valve disk 25 from the lower end of the tube 26.

Suction is applied to the interior of the chamber 28 by means of the suction line 29 which is threaded into the tube 26. The suction line 29 communicates with a water trap 36, of an preferred construction, which in turn is connected to the intake manifold H by connecting conduit 3|. A water tank 32 of any preferred construction may be located adjacent the engine It, or may be located elsewhere on the vehicle (see Fi ure 8).

The inlet line 33 from the water tank 32 enters w the chamber 2D at a sealed port 34 and extends downwardly to a point adjacent the bottom of the chamber 28. municates with the interior of the chamber 26 at a point near the lower end thereof andextends The discharge line 35 com-,

upwardly for connection with a check valve, 56, 7

extends into the pad 40 as shown in Figure 7 and islprovided with 'a plurality of outlets 4! for distributing water in to the absorbent pad 40.

The annular element is containing the pad 48 includes a central 'tube 42. A spirally wound wire 44 encircles the wire mesh tube 42 in axial relation and'a layer of cloth, such as open weave cloth 45, is wrapped around the spirally wound wire-44; A cord 46 is then spirally wound over the cloth '45 between the coils of the wire 44 and is drawn inwardly on diameter until the cloth 45 touches the wire mesh tube 42. On that portion of the periphery of the central wire 'mesh'tube 42, which is adjacent the pad 48, the

cloth'45li s drawn inwardly until it rests on the outer'surfac'e'of the pad "49 rather than on the tube "42. "This arrangement has been found to produce an'inexpensive yet efficient form-of bellows which act as a strainer and humidifier *for air passing'through it. -A cloth cover 43, which also may be absorbent cloth encircles the entire element [9. The ends of the annular element I9 compriseannular metallic disks and 5| retained in positionby axially extending rods5 2;

In operation; vacuum from' the intake manifold I i transmitted by the lineSl to the water trap 30. Vacuum pressure is then applied via the line ZQ'and iriletZS into the water supply chah'iber'Zfi. The reduced pressure within the chamber'Za duces a flower water into the chamber through the inlet pipe 33. Asthe water level "in the chamber rises/the float 21 moves up'wardly on the sleeve'i28. 'When' the top of the float strikes the underside of the valve '24,-the valve disk is brought into contact with the lower end of the 7 tube 26, thereby closing off the vacuumline-ZS, A flapper valve 41 having a flexible flap 48 adapted to close oiT a line '49 leading ,from the chamber 25 may be provided if desired.

The valve 41 is closed when suction within the chamber it draws the flexible; flap 48 into sealing position at the outer end of the tube 49.

Water within the supply'chamber Zllpasses outwardly by gravity throughthe discharge line andthroughthe .check Valve.36, the ranger element 53 provided in the casing is.

flow being governed by the set of manually adjustable control valves 31. The water then passes inwardly through the distributor pipe 38 and outwardly through the lateral ports 4| to saturate the absorbent material of the pad 40. Water passes by capillary attraction from the pad 40 to the cloth bellows and closure 43 so that the entire element 13 is normally saturated with water.

Motion of thej vehicle in-which the; engine H3 is mountedserves to ram air into the scoop tube 16 and into the central opening 39 within the I9. The .air then passes radially outwardly through the wire mesh tube 41, cloth bellows 45 and cover 43 and through the ports The bellows construction provides maximum area for humiditying the air yet ofiers only minimum restriction to fiow of air therethrough. The ports 53 communicate with the interior of the enclosure 54, and air passes from the enclosure 54 through lateral ports 55 into the header 56 .which'is in communication with the carburetor'air intake 14. It will be observed that the entire volume of air passing into the carburetor intake 14 is humidified upon. passing through the saturated element [9. The amount of moisture absorbed by the air depends, of course, on th relative humidity of the air entering the scoop J6 and upon its temperature. It should be noted, however, that in general higher temperatures of incoming air automatically result in higher moisture content of air entering theinlet l4 and thus automatically thermodynamic control is obtained for injecting relatively larger amounts of moisture into the air as the'temperatureincreases andthereby detonation within thebombustion chamber is minimized. I l

The increase in air density and the addition of moisture permits satisfactory use of a leaner mixture, thusresulting in a better power mixture strength for obtaining maximum performance of the engine. The element 19 inay'befconveniently withdrawn as a unit from the casing I8by removal of the wing nuts'l'l and separation of the connection 61. A fiexible'tube '65 forms a convenient means for disconnecting the water tube '38 from the control .valve31, for purposes of removal of the element, l9. Cleaning of the element I9 is. then easily accomplished. The casing l8 is'provided with a'dr'ain 64'for returning excess water to the tank'32.

While I have shown' and described a watersupe ply chamber 20 for supplying water to'the ab-I sorbent pad lflg'm'y invention isnot limitedto this'arrangement and may'fin'stead utilize an' electric pump E'I'operatedjfr'oin'the' battery' 58 of the vehicle as shown in'Fig'uret; If desired, the pump51' may be electrically'connected with the ignition circuit so that it operates only when the ignition key is turned on. The pump 5T'may discharge water directly into the line 35 leading to the check valve 36 and control valve 311; As shown in Figure 8, the water-tank 32 may be mounted in the rear of the vehicle if desired.

' Under ce'rtain conditions of operationj'suchi'as operatio'n",at low temperatures,- it 'may be desirable to draw air from 'within'the enclosure"(56 in which the'engine [0 is mounted. Accordingly, a valve 59 may be mounted within the air inlet tube l 6 and arranged forfpivotalmovement about the axis ofits supportingshaftflfifl. IA c'rankifil secured to the shaft 'maybe operated by a Bowden cable 62 carried on "the bracketf63. When the valve 59 .istulnedto the positionillustrated: by the dottedlines in Figure .3. air is no longerndrawn from a location .inadvancelof the radiator 13, but enters through the opening normally closed by .thevalve '59. In subfreezing weather oil may bev substituted for .water inthe tank 32 or 32 in order that the unit may con.- tinueeflic'ient operation as an air cleaner.

While I have described my invention in connection with an engine employing a carburetor, ili ii be. un er t o th t m n of i s i c pal advantages are useful with an engine of the diesel type using solid injection instead of carburetion.

Having fully described my'invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

,1; In a device for humidifying air for subsequent combustion with afuel, the combination of a casing having a removable, element therein, a central opening in said element closed at one end by the casing,labsorbent mesh material encircling said opening, an absorbent pad adjacent said opening confined within said mesh material, means imbedded in said pad for injecting water into said pad, means for conveying atmospheric air axially into the central opening whereby it may pass radially outwardly through the mesh of said absorbent material, and means associated with the casing for discharging moist air.

2. In a deivce for humidifying air for subsequent combustion with a fuel, the combination of a casing having a removable element therein, a central opening in said element closed at one end by the casing, a pad of absorbent material adjacent said opening, a perforated pipe imbedded in the pad for injecting water into said pad, a bellows of absorbent mesh material encircling said opening and said absorbent pad, and adapted to become saturated from said pad, duct means for conveying atmospheric air axial- 1y into the central opening whereby it may pass radially outwardly through the material of the bellows and absorb moisture therefrom, and duct means associated with the casing for discharging moist air.

3. In a device for humidifying air for subsequent combustion with a fuel, the combination of a casing, an annular removable element in the casing and provided with a central horizontal opening closed at one end by the casing, a pad for absorbent material adjacent said opening, a perforated pipe imbedded in the pad for injecting water into said pad, said annular element including a bellows of absorbent mesh material encircling said opening and said absorbent pad, and adapted to become saturated with moisture from said pad, duct means for con- 1 veying atmospheric air into the central opening whereby it may pass radially outwardly through the mesh material of the bellows and absorb moisture therefrom, and duct means associated with the casing for discharging moist air.

6 jectingwater into said pad, said annular element'including a bellows of absorbent mesh material encirclingisaid opening and said absorbent pad, Iandadapted to become saturated with moisture from' said :pad,v duct means for conveying atmosphericair into the central opening whereby. it mayxpass radially outwardly throughthe mesh material of the bellows and absorb moisture therefrom, and duct means associated wit the casing for, discharging moist air. I 5. In a devicefor humidifying air for SHbSEr quentcombustion with a fuel, the combination of ;a,casing, an annular removable element in the casing, and provided with a central -hori-: zontal opening closed at one end by the casing, a pad of absorbent material extending axially of the element above said opening and extend-. ing-around the opening in anarc-less than 180, a perforated pipe imbedded in the pad-for injecting water into said pad, saidannular element including a bellows of absorbent mesh material encircling said opening and said absorbent pad, and adapted to become saturated with moisture from said pad, duct means for conveying atmospheric air into the central opening whereby it may pass radially outwardly through the mesh material of the bellows and absorb moisture therefrom, and ports in the upper portion of the casing for discharging moist air.

6. In a device for humidifying air for operation of an internal combustion engine, the combination of a casing, a replaceable corrugated element in the casing formed of water absorbent mesh material, means including a pump driven independently of the engine for injecting water into the casing to saturate the absorbent material, and means for passing through the mesh of said saturated material substantially the entire flow of air required for combustion in the engine.

'7. In a device for humidifying air admitted to the carburetor of an internal combustion engine, the combination of a casing, a replaceable corrugated. element in the casing formed of water absorbent mesh material, means for injecting water into the casing to saturate the absorbent mesh material, and means for passing through the mesh of said saturated material substantially the entire flow of air required for operation of the engine, whereby the density of the air may be increased prior to carburetion.

8. A device for increasing the density of air supplied to an internal combustion engine, comprising an air inlet conduit, a casing connected to the conduit, a replaceable corrugated element in the casing formed of water absorbent mesh material, means for injecting water into the absorbent mesh material to saturate the same, and means for passing through the mesh of said saturated material substantially the entire flow of air required for operation of the engine.

9. In a device for suppressing detonation in an internal combustion engine, the combination of means for humidifying an absorbent mesh material, said absorbent mesh material being corrugated to provide maximum area and minimum 4. In a device for humidifying air for subseresistance to flow of air therethrough and means for passing through the mesh of said saturated material substantially the entire flow of air required for operation of the engine, whereby the air may be humidified, cooled and its density increased.

10. In a device for humidifying air to be used in combustion with a fuel in an engine, the combination of a casing; a replaceable humidifier cartrid e adapted to ;be received within'the cas- 1g; :2 :central axial, opening in said ca'rtridge c1osed;at one end bylthea casing, the ;cartridge including a :spirally wound element positioned axiallypf ithe :central-zopening; a cloth fabric watereabsorbent. material encircling the .aspirally woundielement; a.secondspirallyzwound element positioned.:exteriorally 10f the cloth fabric and between the coils of said first spirally wound element, said elements :cooperating to hold the cloth fabric in the (shape of a bellows; -means for-saturatingthe cloth' fabric with water; means fer-conveying atmospheric air axiallyinto-the central opening whereby it-may pass radially outwardly through the meshof said absorbent cloth fabric; and means associated with the casing for discharging moist air.

ll". As an article of I manufacture, --a replace a-ble' cartridge for-a humidifier unit comprising in combination a spirally wound element extending axially 'ofthe cartridge; means in the cartridge defining an axially extending central opening therein; cloth fabric water absorbent-material :REFE-RE-NCES CITED The following referencesare of record in the iile of this patent: UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name :Date

823,382 Akesoni 1..Iune;12,l.1906 887,017 Puddin'gtonm .iMayr 5,;1908

1,097,380 "Weg1ein,.- Jr. 1t-May :19, 1914 1,278,836 Bibbee Sept. 517,319.18 1,585,488 Goode May'18, 1926 1,682,546 .Bang'ert Aug. 28,1928 2,108,556 Hardt 1 Feb. 15, 1938 2,388,213 Mock Oct. 30,1945 2,392,565 Anderson .et a1 Jan. 8,1946 

